G# Hungarian minor
Harmonic minor with a raised 4th; two augmented 2nds give it a sharply defined sound.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- G# Hungarian minor
- Family
- Exotic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – H – W+H – H – H – W+H – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-1-3-1-1-3-1
Notes & degrees
1G#root
2A#major 2nd
b3Bminor 3rd
#4Daug 4th
5D#perfect 5th
b6Eminor 6th
7Gmajor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- Harmonic minor with a raised 4th; two augmented 2nds give it a sharply defined sound.
- Application in music
- Pairs with a minor tonic; raised 4th and major 7th degrees create two directed tendencies.
- Interval formula
- G#WA#HBWHDHD#HEWHG
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IG#point of resttonic
IIIBdefines modal qualitythird
VD#supports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIGG
IG#G#
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IG#G#
IIA#A#
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how G# Hungarian minor looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.